Posted on 02/25/2010 7:35:14 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
Mike Hanson plans to hike the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail end to end, without ever seeing the ground under his feet.
On Monday in Georgia, the St. Louis Park man -- who lost his sight at birth -- will start his seven-month trek to Maine, navigating by GPS. He has mastered its use by cell phone and trusts global positioning technology to steer his every step.
"It gives me everything I would need to know about the trail but the view," Hanson said. "I will be able to hear and smell what is going on."
If he makes it, he'll be in select company.
More than 11,000 people have completed the trail but only three or four were blind, said Laurie Potteiger of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. One was Bill Irwin, author of "Blind Courage," who did it in 1990 with a guide dog.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Had to crop the title a bit.....
"Blind since birth, a St. Louis Park man is hitting the Appalachian Trail with GPS technology and a shot at making history."
I would trust the guide dog over the GPS any day.
I would trust the guide dog over the GPS any day.
Thanks, Joe!
Let’s hope he doesn’t end up down in Argentina...
Dumb idea.
One of my brothers is blind. I think it would mean the world to him to accomplish something like this.
More power to this gentleman!!
Well, I’m sure that he has done his homework on his chosen GPS system and that he’ll do just fine....
But, at the end of the day, your GPS isn’t going to lick you in the face..
;-)
Great story! He’s a braver man than myself. I have to laugh though thinking about what it’s like to be outdoors and looking for a safe place (and direction) to take a wee without giving passers by too much information. GPS won’t find you a convenient bush or tree. :)
Sounds like NY Governor Padersen meeting NC Governor Sanford.
“He programmed his GPS software with points for roads, water sources, campsites, shelters, re-supply points, and landmarks every 100 yards. Pressing a button prompts a voice from the phone to tell him where he is, which direction he is heading, and how far to go to the next trip marker.”
And he does have a support person with him.....
The trail in its entirety was opened in 1936 and the first hiker to go straight through did so in 1948. Most of the 11,000 have hiked the trail in pieces. This guy is probably not going to make the whole hike in one stretch. Few do.
BTW does he know about the timber rattlers, copperheads and black bears? I don't think they show up on GPS.
“And he does have a support person with him.....”
I hope he doesn’t take a wrong turn and end up in Argentina.
I’d expect he has more to worry about from moose than the snakes or the bears. I haven’t seen snakes on the (admittedly short) parts of the trail that I’ve been on, and as long as he keeps his food and trash secure, the bears will find better things to do. The people I’ve met who did long hikes said a dog was invaluable. It wasn’t just for companionship, either.
Bill Erwin had a guide dog and could see light and fuzzy blobs. He got the crap beat out of him every day from falling down.
I'll be following this guys hike on the web, I am dubious.
I envy ANYONE who has done the thru hike. I have hiked portions of the trail in PA/NJ/NY, but understand that once you are in Maine, you truly are on your own.
He may succeed, he may fail...
Until it’s over, it remains a good story.
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